Dr. Charles H. Graham
Professor, Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences
Ph.D. (Anatomy), University of Western Ontario
M.Sc. (Anatomy), University of Western Ontario
B.Sc. Honours (Microbiology and Immunology), University of Western Ontario

Phone: (613) 533-2852
Email: grahamc@queensu.ca

Our research explores certain aspects of cancer progression as well as complications of pregnancy and their impact on subsequent health. Over the years, our research in cancer has focused on investigating mechanisms by which the tumour microenvironment contributes to malignant progression, and one of our longstanding interests has been on studying the effects of tissue oxygenation on the acquisition of malignant properties by cancer cells. More recently, our emphasis has been on examining the interactions between cancer cells and immune cells and on how such interactions can either promote survival or elimination of tumour cells. Our pregnancy research focuses on understanding the role of aberrant inflammation in the pathophysiology of pregnancy complications and on how inflammation can increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease later in life in the affected mothers and their offspring.

Dr. Graham developed CANC 380, Evolutionary Biology of Cancer, a third-year online course designed to introduce students from various biological sciences and allied health backgrounds to cancer as an evolutionary problem. The course focuses on the effect of the local tumour environment on the progression of cancer and uniquely emphasizes the impact of the immune system in fighting cancer while at the same time shaping tumour cell evolution. In addition, the course covers the effect on malignant progression of other factors present in the tumour environment, such as oxygenation levels.

For publications from our research team please visit Google Scholar.

Research Associates

Shannyn MacDonald-Goodfellow
Veterinary Technology Program, St Lawrence College
B.A. (Biology and Psychology), Queen's University

Shannyn has been working in the Graham Lab for more than 27 years. She has been involved in many projects, both pregnancy and cancer related, and has had the pleasure of working with many students. In her free time, she can be found spending time with her family and gardening.

Dr. Jean-François Paré
Ph.D. (Molecular and Cellular Biology), Université Laval
B.Sc. (Biology), Université Laval

Jean-François Paré joined the Graham Lab in 2018 and has been investigating human innate immunity's role in response to bladder cancer treatment and in pregnancy complications. He also mentors students in the experimental aspects of their research projects. Prior to joining the Graham lab, he worked in stem cell research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and at the Boston Biomedical Research Institute, and then investigated the bioelectric modulation of innate immunity at the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University.

For a complete list of publications authored by Dr. Paré, view his Google Scholar profile.

Postdoctoral Fellows

Dr. Tiziana Cotechini
Postdoctoral Fellowship (Cancer Immunology), Oregon Health & Sciences University
Ph.D. (Anatomy and Cell Biology), Queen's University
M.Sc. (Anatomical Sciences), Queen's University
B.Sc. (Life Sciences), Queen's University

Tiziana is a reproductive biologist with extensive training in cancer immunology interested in studying the duality of immune responses in both pregnancy and cancer.

Graduate Students

Aline Atallah
M.Sc. Candidate (Microbes, Immunity, and Inflammation)
B.Sc. (Life Sciences), Queen's University

Aline is a graduate student in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences pursuing a master’s degree in Microbes, Immunity, and Inflammation. She has recently completed her undergraduate degree at Queen’s University in Life Sciences, specializing in Cancer Research, and her undergraduate thesis was focused on the acquisition of trained immunity in bladder cancer. Aline has a keen interest in cancer immunology which is the focus of her master’s thesis as well. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, dancing Salsa, travelling, and exploring new places.

Paola Dantonio
Ph.D. Candidate (Cancer Research; under the supervision of Dr. Lynne Postovit)
M.Sc. (Cell and Tissue Biology), Universidade de São Paulo
B.Sc. (Biomedical Sciences), Universidade Federal de São Paulo

Paola's research interests focus on the tumour microenvironment, including tumour-stroma interplay, tumour evolution, and plasticity.

Alexa Toews
M.Sc. Candidate

Alexa's research interests include the transgenerational effects of aberrant inflammation in pregnancy on offspring’s future health. Her focus is currently on the structural and functional changes to the placenta in subsequent generations, in particular the effects on amino acid transporters.

Nakeisha Lodge-Tulloch
Ph.D. Candidate (Reproductive and Developmental Sciences)
B.Sc. (Life Sciences), Queen's University

Nakeisha has a genuine interest and passion for the field of reproduction and development. Her research interests include maternal and perinatal health. She is strongly fascinated by human embryonic and fetal developmental processes.

Richard Nauman
M.Sc. Candidate (Microbes, Immunity, and Inflammation)
B.Sc. (Life Sciences), Queen's University

Richard's current research interests include cancer progression, immune evasion, immunotherapy, and viral immunology. Specifically in the Graham Lab, he is focused on innate immune memory in the context of BCG therapy for bladder cancer.